What we learned; Monday 23 September
Before we say goodnight, a recap of the major events of the day:
Jim Chalmers has revealed a $149bn cut to national debt under Labor.
Australia overtook Russia in the Asia influence rankings.
The Greens say they won’t pass Labor’s Reserve Bank reforms until interest rates are cut. Katy Gallagher says the government remains committed to the reforms.
The latest polls show equal waiting for Albanese and Dutton in the eyes of voters.
There’s been a call for thousands of blood donors as demand soars.
The ACCC has announced it is taking Coles and Woolworths to court over alleged misleading claims
Peter Dutton said he would abolish the position of the First Nations ambassador.
The government has released the exposure draft on a mandatory food and grocery code.
The government announced it will provide an additional $10m in aid in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Peter Dutton delivered a keynote address on nuclear energy at the Ceda conference in Sydney about the Coalition’s nuclear energy policy, saying information on actual implementation and costs would be released “in good time”. The Independent MP for Wentworth, Allegra Spender, said Dutton had put forward “no credible plan for cutting carbon emissions and delivering reliable energy over the next decade”.
The Albanese government has appointed a new Energy Infrastructure Commissioner to facilitate the renewables rollout.
Victoria is still talking to the federal government about rail loop funding, the state’s premier, Jacinta Allan, said.
A man has been charged with murder after a 39-year-old woman from Palm Island died from head injuries.
And AFL stars walked the Brownlow medal red carpet.
The live news blog will be back bright and early tomorrow morning.
Updated
High Court dismisses appeal to return Australian IS families
Just one more news update before we leave you for tonight.
The high court has refused a bid to repatriate Australian children and mothers of Islamic State fighters detained in refugee camps in Syria, AAP reports.
The decision on Monday is another blow to the legal challenge brought by Save the Children Australia against the government to compel it to return the mothers and children.
The federal court ruled in June the government did not have control over their detainment, with the advocacy group seeking special leave to appeal in the high court.
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